Colombian steam coal exports increased to 7.4Mt in August

Colombian steam coal exports increased to 7.4m tonnes in August, up 5.25 m-o-m and up 1.4% y-o-y. Colombian shipments to the MED area (Israel, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco), the Americas and the Far East increased during the month; whereas coal dispatches to the European destinations declined in August.

Colombian coal shipments to American destinations increased to 3.1m tonnes, up 13.7% m-o-m and up 27.1% y-o-y. Exports to Mexico totalled 710KT, down 12.6% m-o-m but still were 151.3% higher y-o-y. Shipments to Chile remained stable at 700KT, down 4.1% m-o-m but still were 69.3% higher y-o-y. Exports to the US increased to 560KT, up 29.1% m-o-m and up 17% y-o-y.

Colombian shipments to Far East picked up in August to 690KT, up 6.8% m-o-m and up 70.6% y-o-y. Dispatches to South Korea increased to 290KT, up from 170KT shipped in July but were lower than 400KT exported in August 2016. Shipments to Japan declined to 180KT, down 24.5% m-o-m. Exports to Taiwan increased to 90KT, up 7.7% y-o-y. There were no shipments to Japan and Taiwan in August 2016.

Export to the MED area increased to 1.8m tonnes in August, up 12% m-o-m and up 10.3% y-o-y. Shipments to Turkey increased to 1.3m tonnes, up 18.5% m-o-m and up 36% y-o-y; whereas shipments to Israel declined to 510KT, down 1.3% m-o-m and down 24.9% y-o-y.

On the other hand, Colombian shipments to the European destinations declined to 1.9m tonnes, down 11.5% m-o-m and down 35% y-o-y.

Despite the rise in August shipments, Colombian steam coal exports declined to 57.3m tonnes over the Jan.-August period, down 650KT or 1.1% y-o-y. Exports to the American destinations increased to 20.4m tonnes, up 3.3m tonnes or 19.1% y-o-y. Shipments to Far East increased by mere 60KT to 4.6m tonnes, up 1.4% y-o-y. Exports to the MED area increased to 13.7m tonnes, up 320KT or 2.4% y-o-y. On the other hand exports to Europe declined to 19m tonnes, down 3.9m tonnes or 16.9% y-o-y.